Committee to Advise Government on Tracing Escaped Salmon

An advisory committee of industry and stakeholder representatives will provide advice on a practical way to trace the origin of escaped salmon. This is part of the new containment management rules for finfish farms in Nova Scotia.

Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Keith Colwell announced the committee members today, Jan. 12.

"When we launched new aquaculture regulations in the fall I committed to find a reliable way to trace escaped salmon as part of our responsible approach to developing the industry," said Mr. Colwell. "Today, I am taking the first step to do that by appointing this advisory committee to recommend a sound method to trace escaped salmon back to its point of origin."

The committee will have a year to consider options and provide advice to the department on a workable approach that would be factored into policy and regulations for the industry. It will consider best practices from other jurisdictions in preparing its recommendations.

The group is being chaired by Carl Purcell of the Nova Scotia Salmon Association and includes members from the angling community, aquaculture operators, and the provincial and federal governments.

"This is a first step where government, industry and wild Atlantic salmon conservation groups are working together to develop a system to trace the paths of escaped farmed salmon from the cage to the river. Escapees are a worldwide concern wherever there are marine salmon farms. Nova Scotia can become a world leader in this field and develop a tracing system that could be used globally," said Mr. Purcell.

"I would like to thank the committee members for agreeing to work on this important issue as we build public trust in the ability of aquaculture to develop in an accountable way," said Mr. Colwell.

"I've made it very clear that we are committed to a transparent approach to managing the development of this sector. That includes our approach to tracing escaped salmon."

Aquaculture is worth more than $60 million to the provincial economy and directly employed more than 600 people in 2014.

Nova Scotia introduced new aquaculture regulations covering licensing and leasing, fish health and environmental monitoring earlier this fall. The regulations are available at http://novascotia.ca/fish/aquaculture/.

FOR BROADCAST:

An advisory committee of industry and stakeholder

representatives will provide advice on a practical way to trace

the origin of escaped salmon. This is part of the new

containment management rules for finfish farms in Nova Scotia.

The committee will have a year to consider options and

provide advice to the department on a workable approach that

would be factored into policy and regulations for the industry.

Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Keith Colwell says he

committed to finding a reliable way to trace escaped salmon as

part of the new responsible approach to regulating aquaculture

in Nova Scotia.

Salmon tracing advisory committee members:

• Jonathan Carr, director of research and environment, Atlantic Salmon Federation, Chamcook, New Brunswick
• Bruce Hancock, director of aquaculture, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Shelburne
• Jeff Nickerson, Nova Scotia saltwater operations manager, Cooke Aquaculture Ltd., Halifax Regional Municipality
• Carl Purcell, committee chair, Nova Scotia Salmon Association, Chester
• Lloyd Robicheau, lobster harvester, Lobster Fishing Area 32, Three Fathom Harbour, Halifax Regional Municipality
• Tom Smith, Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia, Halifax Regional Municipality
• Cindy Webster, director of aquaculture management, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Halifax Regional Municipality